The United States has urged its G7 partners to introduce tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, in a move aimed at tightening financial pressure on Moscow as the Ukraine conflict enters a critical phase.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer made the appeal during a call with G7 finance ministers on Friday, echoing President Donald Trump’s call for stronger collective measures to restrict Russia’s energy revenues.
Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, who chaired the meeting, led discussions on potential next steps to increase economic costs on Moscow and reinforce the G7’s coordinated stance on Ukraine.
Washington has consistently argued that “unified efforts” targeting Russia’s oil revenues are the most effective way to cut off funding to its war machine, while also ensuring that sanctions remain globally enforceable.
The proposal underscores rising US concerns that third countries continue to purchase discounted Russian oil, providing Moscow with a lifeline despite existing price caps and sanctions. G7 officials are now evaluating how such a tariff regime could be implemented without disrupting global energy markets.
